Truth

"Don't be sad, brother. I brought a mistress with me this time. Why don't you come along?"

Dales was taken aback, but then he didn't care. Instead, he grabbed City Lord Xiao's right arm and said happily, "And he's also a Soul Master."

"Hmph, at least you still remember the favor I did for you in the past!"

City Lord Xiao was on the left, Dales was on the right. The two had their arms around each other, and their figures disappeared into the setting sun.

"Is Sisi really dead?"

Not far away, Su Yuntao overheard their entire conversation—

He thought he had let go of Sisi, but so many years of unrequited love still made him unconsciously wander to the vicinity of the Xiao Manor in his spare time...

In the past few days, Su Yuntao hadn't seen Sisi. He initially thought she was avoiding him, but he never imagined she had already passed away, on the very day of the attack on the Xiao Manor...

[A nobleman! Xiao Lang! Dales!]

His fists clenched so tightly they cracked, and sharp claws pierced the skin of his palms, causing red blood to seep from between his fingers and drip to the ground.

After a long while, Su Yuntao sighed softly and, dragging his dejected body, headed towards the Nuoding Guild.

The guild was bustling with activity.

Zhou Qing and his group won the first round and held a banquet. The other adventurers in the guild, who were always carefree, also joined in the celebration.

Su Yuntao felt out of place in the atmosphere, so he went to the counter and asked Miss Alice for a glass of strong liquor.

But Alice served Fruit Wine instead.

"I want strong liquor!" Su Yuntao said firmly.

"The spirits are all sold out, only Fruit Wine is left." This time, Alice really wasn't lying; the guild's stock of spirits had been completely swept clean by the excited adventurers.

"Is even the heavens against me? It's really tough being Commoner Soul Master."

Su Yuntao picked up the Fruit Wine, drank it all in one gulp, and then looked at Zhou Qing and the others who were celebrating. His eyes were glazed over, as if he had returned to his childhood. "When I was a child, I liked to eat sweets, but I don't like them anymore."

"Commoner Soul Master? Who here isn't Commoner Soul Master?"

Alice saw through Su Yuntao's worries, but didn't know how to comfort him, so she could only smile and say, "You, the Battle Soul Master, are the only candidate for the next Hall Master of the Nuoding Spirit Hall Branch in the eyes of all the Soul Master in Nuoding City."

"This is indeed something to be happy about..."

Su Yuntao downed the Fruit Wine in his glass in one gulp, forced a smile, and suddenly asked Alice a question, "I'm having a problem right now, can you give me some advice?"

Before Alice could answer, Su Yuntao asked, "There was someone who took something I once treasured, played with it recklessly, ruined it, used up its last bit of value, and then discarded it without anyone knowing... What do you think I should do? Should I take revenge?"

Alice stared into Su Yuntao's eyes, sensing the anger within them. After a long silence, she finally said, "Are the things you cherish your parents?"

Su Yuntao was stunned for a moment, then slapped himself.

Snap!

The crisp sound echoed throughout the Nuoding Guild, but because the guild was filled with cheers at the time, no one paid any attention except for Zhou Qing, who had noticed Su Yuntao as he entered.

It seemed that only the bright red slap on Su Yuntao's cheek proved that this had happened.

"Thank you, Miss Alice." Su Yuntao took a deep breath, his face sincere. "You always make me understand what's most important."

But Alice didn't think so, because she could see that Su Yuntao's resentment hadn't been vented, but was instead suppressed by an even heavier responsibility.

But what could she do?

This is the helplessness of Commoner Soul Master. The Spirit Hall Branch in Nuoding City doesn't have that much power, so when trouble comes, they have to endure it.

Report to the Prince?

How much time and energy would that take?

Moreover, as the receptionist of the Adventurer's Guild, Alice's information network was arguably the most comprehensive in Nuoding City: since the current Pope took office, the management of the main halls, sub-halls, and branch halls in other cities on the continent by Spirit City had been downgraded, and even a small number of main hall Hall Master had begun to openly amass wealth.

Of course, this is not considered a big problem by the major powers. Similar things have happened during the years when the Spirit Hall changed Pope in history.

Moreover, during the transitions of emperors in the Heaven Dou Empire and the Star Luo Empire, the city lords and officials of major cities also acted in the same way, seeking personal gain.

But as long as the new emperor consolidates his position and rule, things will return to a stable state as before.

The current period is for the new Pope the Spirit Hall to consolidate her rule. Moreover, the Spirit Hall is different from other forces, as it reveres Soul Master. Apart from handling affairs, the new Pope will definitely spend most of her time cultivating. This will inevitably lead to the Spirit Hall new Pope needing more time to consolidate her rule after the handover between the old and new Pope.

Therefore, during this period, when the grassroots staff of the Spirit Hall Branch, including the branch Hall Master, encounter problems, they report them to the sub-hall. The sub-hall hall will try its best to suppress the problems and let them find their own solutions.

Unless someone or someone with power openly opposes the Spirit Hall Branch in Nuoding City, the Sub-Hall will not send anyone down to deal with it. Otherwise, no matter how much injustice one suffers, as long as it is a private matter, one must bear it oneself.

Therefore, Alice could only offer this advice, urging Su Yuntao to be strong. After all, for most Commoner Soul Master, living is ultimately easier than being a true commoner; there's no need to dwell on things that cause them distress...

"Bro Tao!"

Zhou Qing pushed through the crowd, walked to his side, and asked Alice for a glass of Fruit Wine.

"Congratulations on winning the first team match." Su Yuntao forced a smile and wished Zhou Qing success in advancing to the second round.

"Well, it's just because I'm a little clever." Zhou Qing waved his hand casually, saying modestly, and then asked, "Why does Bro Tao look so worried? Is it because of Sisi again?"

She's gone...

In front of Zhou Qing, a child, Su Yuntao dared to truly reveal his true feelings, because he knew Zhou Qing's intelligence and his sense of propriety. Moreover, because the other party was young, he, as an adult, could somewhat 'unrestrainedly' express the resentment he had been holding in. "Tell me, is the status of a noble really that noble? Even Soul Master have to curry favor, try every means to obtain it, and even become their vassals."

Zhou Qing remained silent for a while before asking, "Perhaps you could try to change?"

"Change?"

Su Yuntao was puzzled at first, then shook his head, "Change this world? I don't have that ability."

"But the Spirit Hall has them, doesn't it?"

Although in Zhou Qing's eyes, the political system of the Spirit Hall, which reveres Soul Master Soul Master and completely equates their strength with their noble status, would, if it were to actually become a reality, make this Martial Soul World, where "dragons, phoenixes, and rats all have their own lineage" and "ordinary people can only rely on mutations," even more oppressive.

But at least in the short term, it is in the interest of the vast majority of Commoner Soul Master.

Therefore, the Spirit Hall is one of the forces capable of overthrowing the existing aristocratic systems of the Two Great Empires...